Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Tánaiste again whether the Minister for Justice will come in and answer questions. He knows that this is not going to go away. What the Tánaiste said there gives rise to a great deal of questions. First, we have had contradictory statements from both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice. When I asked him specifically when he, as Taoiseach, was consulted on this appointment he said, and I quote, that it was "likely" during programme for Government negotiations which took place when he was an ordinary Deputy. The Minister said that she told the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach before the appointment. On what date did that happen? Specifically, did the Tánaiste know and was he told that there were other judges who applied recently for this job? Please answer that question. Do not try to ignore it. Why, if he was told, was the Taoiseach of Ireland or the Leader of the Green Party not consulted?

Prior to this appointment, was any documentation shared with Cabinet members on the qualifications of judges to be appointed, that is, what would be a required to be a judge of, for example, the Supreme Court?

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